Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal

On May 18, 2023May 18, 2023 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Nepal4 Comments

One of the last places that we visited during our time in Kathmandu was to Swayambhunath Stupa, which is located on the hillside overlooking the city. It is commonly referred to as “monkey temple” due to the abundance of monkeys that live in the trees that surround the temple grounds. Although there are plenty of monkeys and, as always, you need to be careful around them as they will steel anything that they can get their hands on, we found the nickname to be somewhat derogatory. The temple grounds and the large stupa at the top of the grounds are definitely worth visiting and it is quite busy because it is located on the edge of the city and is a short drive from most of the hotels.

Colorful Buddha Greets You as You Start to Climb Up the Hill

Some of the Many Monkeys that Give the Stupa It’s Nickname

Looking Up at the Architecture of the Stupa

The shape of the Swayambhunath Stupa has very specific meaning as the white, round dome base represents the earth and the 13 golden tiers on the tower of the stupa represent the 13 stages to nirvana. Also, the face of Buddha on the four sides of the tower each face in the directions of west, north, east, and south. There is much more to the temple grounds than just the stupa as there are many different temples and statues surrounding the stupa. There are also the famous prayer wheels that wrap around the base of the stupa and faithful will spin each wheel as they walk around the stupa.

Prayer Wheels and People Walking Around the Stupa

Unique Artwork and the Iconic Prayer Flags

It was the most crowded location of all of the places that we visited while in Kathmandu other than perhaps the Durbar Square in Kathmandu. You will also find plenty of vendors selling goods around the temple grounds and we actually purchased a set of the famous prayer flags before leaving to go back to our hotel. In addition to the stunning architecture, there are also wonderful views of the city from the top of the hill, but it was a little cloudy on the day that we visited, so the views weren’t as dramatic as they might be on a clear day. Especially considering how close it is to the heart of Kathmandu, it is certainly worth taking a couple of hours to visit the Swayambhunath Stupa.

Interesting Features Around Every Corner

These Prayer Displays Were Located Around the Stupa

The City of Devotees, Bhaktapur, in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

On March 23, 2023March 23, 2023 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn NepalLeave a comment

During our first full day in Kathmandu, we took a tour just outside of the city to visit the temples of Bhaktapur. Like many of the locations that we visited throughout the Kathmandu Valley, there was evidence of the devastating earthquake of 2015. There has been a lot of work done to restore these UNESCO World Heritage Sites back to their original states. Bhaktapur is one of the three main cities of the Kathmandu Valley and is home to many of the Newar people, which is one of the oldest cultures in Nepal and also give the city its name as the city of the devotees.

View of the Durbar from the Temple Stairs

There are three styles of temple roofs in Nepal and can be found in the Bhaktapur square, the pagoda style that can be found throughout Asia, the Shikhara style that resembles a mountain peak, and the Stupa style with its dome top. Neapal was made up of many different small kingdoms and each of these palaces had their own squares called a durbar where people gathered, worshipped, and most likely sold goods. The architecture of Bhaktapur is quite stunning, but the effects of the earthquake are quite visible as many of the buildings are being supported by posts to keep them from toppling over until they can be fully repaired.

Another Shikhara Style Temple in the Durbar

Bhaktapur is also known for the clay pots and bricks that are produced in the region and as you drive towards Bhaktapur, you can see the chimneys of the brick factories with plumes of smoke rising towards the sky. In the square, you will find clay pots being painted by the local artisans and awaiting for their time in the kiln to be fired. We spent about two hours in Bhaktapur walking amongst the temples and enjoying the atmosphere. Visiting Bhaktapur is definitely a must for anyone spending time in the Kathmandu Valley.

The Amazing Views from the Lounge at the Burg Khalifa in Dubai

On March 21, 2023March 21, 2023 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Dubai1 Comment

During our trip to Nepal last week, we purposely gave ourselves a twenty-four-hour layover in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It was definitely an interesting way to start our trip and provided a completely different experience than that of Kathmandu, but the highlight was going to the lounge at the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. We purposely chose our visit to coincide with sunset, which only enhanced the experience. We really hadn’t thought about it when we planned our trip, but before it was over we would visit the tallest manmade structure in the world as well as the tallest mountain peak on earth.

Fountain at the Base of Burj Khalifa Where a Performance will Occur After Dark

The lounge at the Burg Khalifa is actually higher than the observation deck and takes up floors 152 through 154. When you purchase a ticket to the lounge, you get a cocktail and some snacks as you enjoy the incredible views of the city of Dubai. It is important to purchase tickets in advance and you must be at the entrance in the Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the middle east, at or before the time of your entrance or your ticket will become invalid. Taking the elevator to the top is not only incredibly fast, but it is amazingly smooth. On one of the floors is an outside terrace where you can get unobstructed views above the glass protective wall.

Sunset with City Views in the Foreground

When the sun started to set, the view was absolutely breathtaking. Sitting on the coast of the Persian Gulf, the sun sets over the water, providing the typical reflections off of the water below. It is said that you can watch the sunset twice at the Burj Khalifa, but once was certainly enough for us during our visit. With a start like this to our trip to Nepal, it was clear that we were in store for one amazing experience after another and that certainly turned out to be the case.